POSNA.orgA growing rod procedure helps straighten crooked spines in young children but still allows the spine to grow. Unlike spinal rods that are used in older teenagers and adults, growing rods need to be lengthened several times a year to match your child’s growth. Some growing rods are lengthened in the operating room only, and other growing rods, with magnets inside can be lengthened in a clinic.
Figure 1: A child with magnetic growing rods that can be lengthened in clinic.